Tuesday's area cities meeting — 5:30 p.m. at St. Augusta American Legion Club — will be one of the more important such gatherings in recent memory.

St. Cloud Mayor Dave Kleis said Friday the mayors and lead administrators of all six cities will recommend a trio of regional projects — trails expansion, airport improvements and building a community aquatics center — lead a metro-wide ballot referendum this fall seeking renewal of the local-option, half-cent sales tax in all six cities.

Under the plan, which leaders crafted Wednesday, $10 million will go to expanding and connecting metro trails with the Lake Wobegon Regional Trail, $4 million will go to building a community aquatics center and $4 million will go to St. Cloud Regional Airport projects.

Combined, those projects would tap just $18 million of a projected $291 million generated across 20 years if majorities of voters in St. Augusta, St. Cloud, St. Joseph, Sartell, Sauk Rapids and Waite Park approve the renewal.

The remaining $273 million would be divided among individual cities, which also are expected to ask their voters to approve city-specific projects. Those funds are distributed to each city based on a formula. The money must go for capital projects only.

Kudos to the six cities' mayors and lead administrators for reaching agreement on a funding package for these three critical regional projects. Whether you live in southern St. Augusta or northern Sartell, there's no doubt all three will improve the quality of life in the St. Cloud metro area.

That said, this board suggests one change: Increase the amount for the community aquatics center to $10 million. The center is at least as important as the trails; plus it can be used year-round.

Combined with $10 million voters OK'd with initial adoption of this local-option tax in 2004, that provides $20 million toward building the $23-$27 million vision. The St. Cloud Area YMCA, which will operate the center, is leading efforts to raise the remainder. It already has about $3 million committed.

After Tuesday's meeting, Kleis said each City Council will be asked within about a month to adopt a joint powers agreement, which sets the stage for Nov. 4 ballot questions.

Residents of all cities not only should encourage their elected officials to adopt that agreement, but they should suggest how they want their city's share of that $267 million spent the next two decades.

Community representative Jason Bernick abstained from this Our View due to a potential conflict of interest.

THE EDITORIAL BOARD

Our View represents the Times Editorial Board, whose members seek to provide opinion, information and leadership that promote public discussion and build a better community.